Themistoclesia inflata A.C.Sm.
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Authority
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex epiphyticus pendulus, ramulis gracillimis elongatis cinereis juventute obscure puberulis mox glabratis; petiolis subteretibus incrassatis rugulosis 2-2.5 mm. longis; laminis in vivo succulentibus inflatisque in sicco coriaceis fuscis, ovato-ellipticis, 3.5-6 cm. longis, 1.5-3.2 cm. latis, ad basim truncatorotundatum vel minute auriculatum gradatim angustatis, apice in acuminem circiter 1 cm. longum acutum terminantibus, margine incrassatis et leviter recuryatis, supra glabris, subtus pilos breves castaneos glandulosos in foveolis minutis depressos gerentibus, e basi ut videtur 5-nerviis, costa et nervis secundariis supra inconspicue impressis vel ut venulis immersis; floribus supra-axillaribus ut videtur solitariis vel paucis in rhachi minuta subfasciculatis, bracteis oblongis acutis haud 1 mm. longis hispidulo-marginatis; pedicellis gracilibus sub anthesi 12-17 mm. longis leviter curvatis pilis albidis 0.2-0.3 mm. longis copiose hispidulopuberulis basim versus obscure bibracteolatis, bracteolis subulatis haud 0.5 mm. longis caducis; calyce turbinato sub anthesi 5-6 mm. longo et circiter 4 mm. apice diametro ut pedicellis puberulo, tubo inconspicue 5-angulato 3-4 mm. longo, limbo suberecto quam tubo breviore intus glabro inconspicue 5-lobato, lobis late deltoideis apiculatis 0.5-1 mm. longis, sinibus rotundatis; disco annulari-pulvmato glabro; corolla glabra tenuiter carnosa late urceolata circiter 7 mm. longa et medium versus 4.5 mm. diametro, basi et apice paullo angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 x 2 mm. sub anthesi reflexis; staminibus 10 longitudine corollam fere aequantibus leviter inaequalibus, filamentis pallidis ligulatis liberis alternatim circiter 1.5 mm. et 1.8 mm. longis superne pilis circiter 0.5 mm. longis dorso hispidulis, antheris 4.5-5 mm. longis, thecis granulatis 1.7-2 mm. longis basi obscure mucronulatis, tubulis gracillimis quam thecis longioribus et multo angustioribus per rimas circiter 0.5 mm. longas dehiscentibus; stylo tereti corollam subaequante basim versus leviter incrassato, stigmate minuto.
Species Description - (hanging epiphyte; leaves crispsucculent, to 4 mm. thick, dark translucent-green, inflated above, pale below with stomata, the surface with numerous pits, the bases of glands; lower 1/3 of the leaf in cross-section with chlorenchyma, the upper 2/3 with apparently 4 cell-layers of hydrenchyma; corolla cream-white, the anthers orange).
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Discussion
This very distinct species is most closely allied to the Colombian T. rostrata A. C. Smith, from which it differs in having its leaf-blades somewhat smaller, narrower at base, thicker and inflated when fresh, and with immersed venation and gland-hairs sunk in small pits on the lower surface. The new species is further distinguished by its very slender anther-tubules, which are not characteristic of Themistoclesia. Slender tubules of this type have been noted in the Colombian T. crassijolia Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 392. 1941), to which T. inflata is also allied. However, T. crassifolia has much larger and obviously cordate leaf-blades and an elongate inflorescence, among other characters which distinguish it from the new species.
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Distribution
Chimborazo: Canon of the Rio Chanchan, about 5 km. north of Huigra, 5,000- 6,500 ft. elev. (moist forested valleys in the afternoon fog-belt), May 19-28, 1945, Camp E-3363 (TYPE US 1,989,082; dupl. NY)
Ecuador South America|